WASHINGTON DC Four Republican congressmen are trying to block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from issuing Clean Air Act waivers for states seeking to ban or limit the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles as the EPA doubles down on a plan to set new limits on tailpipe emissions and require that 67 percent of all new vehicles sold in the US by 2032 be all-electric.
With the support of American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, the Panhandle Producers & Royalty Owners Association and the Texas Oil & Gas Association, the Vehicle Purchase Option Preservation Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives United States by Republican Congressmen Bob Latta of Ohio, John Joyce. of Pennsylvania, Gus Bilirakis of Florida and Jay Obernolte of California.
“Every American should be able to choose the type of car or truck they want to drive,” said AFPM President and CEO Chet Thompson, which primarily represents the oil refining industry. “Restricting consumer choice by eliminating competition and banning entire vehicle powertrains is the wrong way to achieve cleaner transportation or support US energy security. In fact, it could undermine both.
“Liquid fuels are an irreplaceable part of meeting future energy demand and will play an important role in reducing the carbon intensity of transportation,” Thompson said, adding that California would likely be the first state to ban the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engine.
“AFPM appreciates the leadership of Reps. Latta, Joyce, Bilirakis and Obernolte in introducing legislation that would prohibit California from dictating to families across the country what types of cars they must buy and drive.”
PPROA President Judy Stark said from Amarillo that the costs to consumers forced to buy electric vehicles “will far outweigh the damage done to the economy and especially to consumers.
“The push in this direction will minimally affect air quality compared to the environmental damage caused by mining minerals, the inability to recycle electric vehicle batteries, and the cost of replacing an electric vehicle battery when shut down,” Stark said.
Referring to the current need to buy most of the lithium needed to make electric vehicle batteries from China, Stark said: “It will also endanger national security to put more products in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.
“The US needs common-sense lawmakers who represent the interests of the nation and its people.”
TXOGA President Todd Staples said from Austin that the EPA’s plan to impose tailpipe emissions standards “will only serve to harm consumer choice, impose on Americans higher costs and increase our country’s dependence on unstable foreign supply chains.
“We are encouraged to hear that Congress is considering legislation that would address the key areas of concern caused by this proposal,” Staples said.
